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Up Topic Welding Industry / Technical Discussions / Stainless to stainless Welds
- - By gkcwi (**) Date 07-13-2007 17:30
Gentlemen,
Looking for some help. Trying to weld 1/8" ASTM A 304 S.S. plate to 10/24 Hex Mach. 18-8 S.S. Nuts together with SMAW.
Tried using  E308L without a lot of luck. Any suggestions?

Greg
Parent - - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 07-14-2007 03:28
A 10-24 nut is pretty small, what size rod are You using? Even with TIG the nut may distort enough that You have troubble putting a screw in it, but Your chances would be better. Is brazing/silversoldering an option?
Parent - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 07-15-2007 06:22
Maybee You could resistance weld the nut without deforming it too much to use, this is a real MAYBEE.
Parent - - By billvanderhoof (****) Date 07-14-2007 04:21
Is it an option to just drill the plate (#25 drill) and tap the hole to 10/24?  The plate is about as thick as the nut.  Tapping stainless is a bit of a pain but probably no worse than trying to weld something that tiny.
Bill
Parent - - By Tommyjoking (****) Date 07-14-2007 07:49
Agree wholeheartedly with above posts  by Bill and Dave.

f you had access to a tig you could do this without too much trouble....High gas flow and don't weld it all at once.

If you must have a threaded piece (nut) above the plate and must use smaw........

You could try having a gas line of pure argon with a very high flow over each nut as you weld it.  If you can use high freq start I would do so.  Try doing it in small spot welds instead of continuous welding around the nut.  If size is not an issue then fabricate...drill and tap some larger diameter nuts of your own with the same thread/hole size and then you won't have an issue.   At any rate it will be tough to do it this way considering I dont think you can find a 308 smaller then 3/32......70 amps or so is pretty hot for a nut that small.
Parent - - By 803056 (*****) Date 07-14-2007 13:17
One problem you may be encountering is that 18-8 is generic and includes several different austenitic stainless steel alloys, and I believe it includes type 303 alloy.

Type 303 stainless alloy is a free machining alloy that contains low melting point constituants (LMPC) that usually results in solidification cracking long the centerline of the weld bead. Type 303 ASS is often used for stainless steel bolts and nuts due to it's free machining characteristics. A change in the welding process will not eliminate the potential for cracking due to the use of LMPC used to promote the free machining characteristics.

You may have to purchase hardware made from 304 or 316 ASS alloys to prevent cracking. More expensive; yes, but easily welded.

Best regards - Al
Parent - - By CWI555 (*****) Date 07-14-2007 17:44
Learn something new every day.
Parent - By gkcwi (**) Date 07-16-2007 12:23
Gentleman,
Thanks for the input. The "BRAINTRUST" upstairs has decided to go the drill and tap route.

Greg
Up Topic Welding Industry / Technical Discussions / Stainless to stainless Welds

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